no subject

[ Despite the depressing turn this conversation seems to have taken, Malik sees and opportunity to course correct. He's self-pitying by nature, but he isn't about to mire himself in that while he's here in front of a stranger. Sure, he could try to bend the situation to be more sympathetic towards himself -- Lapis seems like she can relate, after all -- but he's still too new and vulnerable. There's simply too many unknown, uncertain variables to take that risk, to expose himself as even more vulnerable.

So he rounds back to his first tactic. He adjusts himself: stands up straighter, rolls his shoulders back, softer expression. ]

I don't think that's something I have to worry about right now.